Growing Fond of You, Mr Nian

Nian Xi felt that he was looking at her in the exact same way Xiaosi had always looked at her.

 He was so adorable, like a puppy. But today, he was a puppy with glasses.

 The puppy walked to her, his eyes glowing brightly. He started to take out a sticky note from his pocket, which was always with him. He wrote —’I’m not lost today.’

 Nian Xi smiled. “How can you be lost today? You didn’t even go out.”

 Jiang Yuning paused. His eyes showed a very confused look. A short while later, he finally remembered where he was.

 He lowered his head, and started to write —’Are you here for me?’

 Nian Xi speechlessly turned to Uncle Han.

 On her way here, she was thinking that it was probably Jiang Yuning who asked for her to come and that Uncle Han was covering for him. Now, she realized that she was overthinking.

 After all, she believed she was so pretty and outstanding, people might think of her as special.

“She is one of the police officers who will be protecting you in Paris when you attend the meeting,” Uncle Han said. “There are three other officers. She will be your bodyguard…”

 Before he finished, Jiang Yuning nodded deeply. His snow-white, delicate face wore an innocent smile that could melt people’s hearts.

 Nian Xi asked, “Are you sure that you don’t want to meet the other police officers? They are all better than me.”

 Jiang Yuning shook his head, writing —’You are good.’

 Nian Xi was delighted. She was hardly ever praised like that.

 Jiang Yuning continued writing —’I like you.’

 1Nian Xi didn’t know how to respond. She considered herself a thick-skinned person, yet, her face reddened immediately.

 She understood that Jiang Yuning was expressing a pure fondness, which had nothing to do with a relationship between a man and a woman.

 “Thank you. I’ll see you then. I’m going to leave now,” Nian Xi said to Uncle Han. She felt that it was about time to leave.

 Before Uncle Han responded, a note was put before her eyes —’Eat lunch.’

 Uncle Han saw it too and said, “It’s about lunchtime, so stay for lunch. You and Mr. Jiang haven’t seen each other for long.”

 Nian Xi looked at the time, then nodded.

 Jiang Yuning took off the white coat, then went to wash his hands. He washed every finger very carefully with hand soap.

 Nian Xi glanced at his large table; a celestial map was on it.

 Uncle Han explained, “Mr. Jiang likes astronomy very much. He always says there are aliens in the universe.”

 Nian Xi gave a bitter smile. In her eyes, Jiang Yuning was an alien himself. “Why didn’t he become an astronomer then? He might have a chance to go to the universe and take a look.”

 “He didn’t meet the physical requirements.” Uncle Han shook his head.

 At that moment, Jiang Yuning walked over with his hands washed. He seemed to be in a very good mood. He waved at Nian Xi, then led the way.

 Nian Xi followed behind him. After about two minutes of walking, they arrived at dinner. The place was all white, looking like a laboratory.

 Seeing her frown, Uncle Han said, “Mr. Jiang grew up in places like this. Both his parents are scientists. Except for the New Year, he was in labs all year long. His parents worked on their projects, and I took care of him.”

 Nian Xi understood. Somehow, she felt some sympathy for Jiang Yuning.

 1Before, she always felt that he was unacceptably weird, and even wondered what kind of environment could foster a person like him. Now, she understood it all.

 What was she doing when she was a child? She was happily monkeying around with Xiao Si and the others.